Antigonus, Son of Aristobulus II (Ἀντίγονος, Antigonos; alternate spelling Antigonos). The last Hasmonean king of Judaea (d. 37 bc).

Josephus records the story of Antigonus II, the son of Aristobulus II. Antigonus II was the high priest and monarch of Israel who lived during the time of the Roman conquest of Jerusalem. Pompey had enacted a military campaign against the Jews, placing Aristobulus in prison and restoring Hyrcanus II to the priesthood as a reward for collaborating with the Romans. Josephus states that the loss of Jerusalem to the Romans was caused by Aristobulus and Hyrcanus continually attempting to subvert each other. The hostility between these two prominent figures had led to the nation becoming vulnerable to a foreign power. Pompey assigned up to two Roman legions to the area and carried off Aristobulus and his children, one of whom was Antigonus.

Josephus notes that Aristobulus, along with Antigonus, escaped from Rome and went to battle the Romans with an army of 8,000 soldiers. Aristobulus lost and was recaptured, but Antigonus was released. Antigonus, the last Hasmonean king of Judaea, overthrew Hyrcanus but was eventually captured by Herod. According to Josephus, Antony had Antigonus beheaded (Josephus, Antiquities 14.54–79; 14.92–103; 15.2–10).

John B. Song